p. 14 | SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 6, 1904

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON 3.—JANUARY 17.—BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 3:13 to 4:11, A. R. V.

(13) "THEN cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14) But John would have hindered Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? (15) But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then He suffereth him. (16) And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightaway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him: (17) and lo, a Voice out of the heavens, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (4:1) "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (2) And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He afterward hungered. (3) And the tempter came and said unto Him, If Thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. (4) But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (5) Then the devil taketh Him into the holy city; and he setteth Him on the pinnacle of the temple, (6) and saith unto Him, If Thou art the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and on their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest haply Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. (7) Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. (8) Again, the devil taketh Him unto an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) and he said unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. (11) Then the devil leaveth Him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto Him."

Golden Text.—"And lo, a Voice out of the heavens, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3:17.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Whence did Jesus come? To what place? For what purpose? Verse 13. (2) How did John receive His application for baptism? For what reason? Verse 14. Note 1. (3) How did Jesus press the matter? Verse 15. Note 2. (4) What did Jesus do immediately after His baptism? Then what manifestation appeared from above? And what came down upon Jesus? Verse 16. Note 3. (5) What word came also from heaven? Verse 17. Note 4. (6) Where, then, did the Spirit lead Jesus? Into what experience? Ch. 4:1. Note 5. (7) What physical trial did He undergo? With what result? Verse 2. Note 6. (8) Who came to Jesus in the wilderness? With what suggestion did he come? Verse 3. (9) How did Jesus answer this attack? Verse 4. (10) Who was this tempter? What next was he permitted to do? Verse 5. (11) What did the devil there say to Jesus? Verse 6. (12) With what scripture did Jesus meet this suggestion? Verse 7; Deut. 6:16. (13) Where next was Jesus taken? What was then shown to Him? Verse 8. (14) What tempting offer was made to Him? On what condition? Verse 9. (15) What final rebuff was given to the tempter? On what scripture was this decision based? Verse 10; Deut. 6:12, 13; 1 Sam. 7:3. (17) What was the result of this implicit faith in the Word of God? Verse 11. Note 7.

NOTES.

1. John evidently recognized in Christ a Man superior to himself. Altho their mothers were cousins, they had both lived retired lives, one in Judea and the other in Galilee, having little or no acquaintance with each other. John must have known of the circumstances of Jesus' birth, and the prophecy of the angel concerning Him; but the Lord had given him a definite sign by which he should know the One he was to announce as the Saviour, and this knowledge was to be imparted in connection with baptism. See John 1:33, 34.

2. Baptism of Christ.—Christ came not confessing His own sins; but guilt was imputed to Him as the sinner's substitute. He came not to repent on His own account, but in behalf of the sinner. As man had transgressed the law of God, Christ was to fulfil every requirement of that law, and thus show perfect obedience. By the mouth of the psalmist He says, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:8. Christ honored the ordinance of baptism by submitting to this rite. In this act He identified Himself with His people as their representative and head. As their substitute, He takes upon Him their sins, numbering Himself with the transgressors, taking the steps the sinner is required to take, and doing the work the sinner must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after His baptism were an example to converted sinners of what they should endure and patiently suffer in consequence of their transgressions.—"Spirit of Prophecy," vol. 2, p. 59.

3. From Luke, chapter 3:21, we learn that Christ was engaged in prayer when the Spirit descended upon Him. This was becoming, in view of the great conflict just before Him, which He must have realized more keenly than any one else had done on being baptized. Those who decide to go forward in this ordinance are too apt to think that now the conflict is over, and they are free; but, as in the experience of Jesus, they generally find that the enemy, for a time at least, assails them more bitterly than ever. But John tells us (John 1:32, 33) that the Spirit abode upon Jesus, it never left Him; hence His final victory. He began the new phase of His career with prayer, and continued it to the cross; and in His example is the secret of successful overcoming.

4. The announcement, "This is My beloved Son," etc., was not delegated to any one, not even to an angel; the Father, with His own voice, proclaimed His indorsement of the act of baptism, and His acknowledgment of Christ as the One whom He had sent to save sinners. On at least two other occasions (Luke 9:35; John 12:28) the Son was likewise acknowledged by a Voice from heaven.

5. Of the experience of being led by the Spirit, to be "tempted" (rather, to be tested, or tried), Prof. A. B. Bruce says: "The divine Spirit has to do with our darker experiences as well as our bright, joyous ones." Be it remembered that while the Spirit led Jesus out to the terrible ordeal in the wilderness, it did not leave Him alone. As noted before, it abode upon Him. Nor did He ever do anything to grieve it away. In this also let Him be our example.

6. The fast of Jesus was absolute as to physical food. Luke says, "He ate nothing." On another occasion, when He had not eaten ordinary food, He said to His disciples, "I have meat to eat that ye know not." John 4:32. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work." Verse 34. The "meat" here referred to, as indicated in verse 4 of the lesson scripture, was the Word of God.

7. "The devil leaveth Him."—In this experience of Jesus is demonstrated the truth of James' words (ch. 4:7), "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Christ has left us without excuse for being overcome by the adversary, no matter what the circumstance.